Skate



(No Model.) I

T. W. BRYANT. SKATE.

No. 46 L312. Patented Dec. 1, 1891.

WITNEEEEE UNITED STATES THOMAS XV. BRYANT, OF TORRINGTON, CONNECTICUT.

PATENT OFFICE.

SKATE.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 464,312, dated December 1, 1891. Application filed June 25, 1891. Serial No. 397,413- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS W. BRYANT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Torrington, in the county of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Skates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain novel and useful improvements in. skates, and has for its object to improve upon the construction of previous skates in the manner presently to be explained, and to furnish a skate whichshall be provided with a simple, neat, and effective fastening mechanism, and which at the same time shall be extensible to fitshoes of difierent sizes; and with these ends in view my invention consists in the details of construction and combinations of elements hereinafter fully explained, and then recited in the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may fully understand its construction and method of op= eration, I will describe these in detail, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form-a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved skate. on the line 4; o of Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line y yof Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a plan view of the sole-plate.

The same numerals denote the same parts in all the figures.

The blade 1 may be of any desired shape or configuration, so as to provide either a speedskate or a skate suited to figure-skating. Said blade has, however, as shown at 2 and 3, upward projections whose top edges are straight lines. The sole-plate 4, which is shown in plan view at Fig. 4, has secured thereto a bifurcated hanger 5, which rests astride the projection 2 from the runner. Each of the two cheeks of this hanger is provided with a longitudinal slot 6. A screw or bolt 7 passes through a hole in the runner and also through the slots in the hanger.

8 is a screw tapped through the center of the sole-plate and the body of the hanger, its

Fig. 2 isa detail longitudinal sectionpoint engaging against the flat top of the projection 2, which may be slightly roughened.

9 are the toe-clamp levers, and 10 is the heelclamp slide, connected by means of a long adj ustment-screw 11, which passes through a lug 12 and is furnished with a thumb-nut 13.

14 is the operating'lever whereby the toeclamps are drawn inward and the heel-slide drawn forward.

15 is the heel-plate, beneath which the clamp lO'is so secured as to slide longitudinally. This heel-plate is provided with a hanger 16, which may be slotted in the same manner as the hanger 5 and adapted to be held and adjusted, as heretofore explained, with reference to the sole-plate; but as the heel adjustment is less often changed than that of the soleplate I find it convenient to provide the hanger with two or more holes 17, through which and a hole in the projection 3 a bolt 18 is passed, as shown at Fig. 1.

The operation of my invention is as follows: To extend or shorten the skate by means of the sole-plate adjustment, the screw 8 is first loosened with a screw-driver, whereupon the slotted hanger may be freely moved lengthwise upon the projection 2, guided by the screw or bolt 7. The sliding of the sole-plate may be readily effected by means of the screw 13, which also controls the position and capacity of the parts forming the clamping devices; but the sole-plate may be moved by hand where the width of the sole and size of the heel-clamps do not require to be changed. When the skate is properly adjusted as to length, the screw Sis set down firmly against the top edge of the projection 2, so as to hold the sole-plate as against movement either forward or backward on the blade. When an extra long or extra short shoe is to be fitted, it may become necessary to employ the heel adjustment in addition to that of the soleplate. If the heel-plate is provided with the same device as the sole-plate, the adjustment will be eifected in the same way; but if the holes and screw shown at- Fig. 1 are employed said bolt or screw is first removed, the heel-plate moved as required, and then the fastening replaced.

The set-screw 8 forms an important part of my invention in connection with the slotted hanger, since it furnishes a convenient and positive means for preventing accidental displacement. between the sole-plate and the blade. It might be said that such a result could be accomplished by means of the screw 7; but Where hangers of cast-iron are employed the metal has notthe spring quality to permit of its two parts being drawn together, and where hangers of malleable iron are employed they acquire, when drawn together to hold the runner, a set against the blade, which interferes with the easy sliding of the parts. Furthermore, the screw 7 is exposed to moisture, and when slightly rusted may become incapable of operation with an ordinary screw-driver. The set-screw 8 is directly in the center of'the soleplate. It is not exposed to moisture from the ice, and as it is covered by the foot cannot be accidentally loosened while in use.

It is now usual for dealers to carry in stock about eight lengths of skates. By means of the adjustment herein described two sizes of skate will be ample to provide for all lengths of shoes fitted by the eight sizes above referred to.

In this my invention I do not wish to be confined to the exact details of construction herein shown and described, since these may be modified in various respects. For instance, while I prefer for a number of reasons to slot the hanger, it will be understood that a similar adjustment admitting of theuse of the set-screw 8 might be obtained by slotting the projection 2 and passing the fastening-screw through close-fitting holes in the hanger.

I claim- 1. In a skate, the combination, with the 3. The combination, with the heel-plate and its clamp, of the sole-plate provided with the clamping-levers 9, the slotted hanger 5, the screws 7 and 8, and the longitudinally-ex tended adj usting-screw 11, all arranged as described, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS W. BRYANT. \Vitnesses:

JOHN W. BRooKs, ISAAC W. BROOKS. 

